Programmable antenna with configuration control and methods for use therewith

ABSTRACT

An antenna configuration controller configures a programmable antenna via a configuration procedure. The configuration procedure includes evaluating first candidate antenna configurations, based on quality data corresponding to each configuration. A selected antenna configuration is identified when the quality data corresponding to the selected antenna configuration compares favorably to a quality threshold. A first proper subset of the first candidate antenna configurations is selected when the quality data corresponding to the first candidate antenna configurations compares unfavorably to the quality threshold; and second candidate antenna configurations are generated, based on the first proper subset. The second candidate antenna configurations are evaluated, based on the quality data corresponding to each of the configurations; and a selected antenna configuration is identified from the second candidate antenna configurations, when the quality data corresponding to the selected antenna configuration compares favorably to the quality threshold.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The present application is related to the following U.S. patentapplications:

MULTI-MODE PROGRAMMABLE ANTENNA WITH CONFIGURATION CONTROL AND METHODSFOR USE THEREWITH, having serial no. 12/______, filed on ______;

PROGRAMMABLE ANTENNA WITH PROGRAMMABLE IMPEDANCE MATCHING AND METHODSFOR USE THEREWITH, having serial no. 12/______, filed on ______;

the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless communication and moreparticularly to antennas used to support wireless communications.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wirelinecommunications between wireless and/or wireline communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. Eachtype of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, inaccordance with one or more communication standards. For instance,wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one ormore standards including, but not limited to, RFID, IEEE 802.11,Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access(CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS),multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variationsthereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wirelesscommunication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio,personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader, RFID tag, et ceteracommunicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communicationdevices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-pointcommunications), the participating wireless communication devices tunetheir receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g.,one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wirelesscommunication system) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirectwireless communications, each wireless communication device communicatesdirectly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services)and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-buildingwireless network) via an assigned channel. To complete a communicationconnection between the wireless communication devices, the associatedbase stations and/or associated access points communicate with eachother directly, via a system controller, via the public switch telephonenetwork, via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.

For each wireless communication device to participate in wirelesscommunications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiverand transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g.,a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communicationnetworks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the receiver is coupled to theantenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediatefrequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The lownoise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via the antenna andamplifies then. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix theamplified RF signals with one or more local oscillations to convert theamplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF)signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IFsignals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce filteredsignals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filteredsignals in accordance with the particular wireless communicationstandard.

As is also known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, oneor more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The datamodulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordancewith a particular wireless communication standard. The one or moreintermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or morelocal oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifiesthe RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.

Currently, wireless communications occur within licensed or unlicensedfrequency spectrums. For example, wireless local area network (WLAN)communications occur within the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, andMedical (ISM) frequency spectrum of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz. Whilethe ISM frequency spectrum is unlicensed there are restrictions onpower, modulation techniques, and antenna gain. Another unlicensedfrequency spectrum is the V-band of 55-64 GHz.

Different radio networks sometimes share the same spectrum. For example,Bluetooth transceivers and 802.11g transceivers may both be present in asingle area using the 2.4 GHz band. In the V-band, devices usingWireless HD (WiHD) and devices using the Next Generation MicrowaveSystem (NGMS) may be present in a single area. Transmissions by onedevice can cause interference with other devices that use the samefrequency band with the same area.

Other disadvantages of conventional approaches will be evident to oneskilled in the art when presented the disclosure that follows.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theDrawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesstransceiver 125 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by different antenna configurations of wireless transceiver 125in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of various communication pathsproduced by wireless transceiver 125 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a configuration sequence inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a configuration sequence inaccordance another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by different antenna configurations of wireless transceiver 125in accordance another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by different antenna configurations of wireless transceiver 125in accordance another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless transceiver 125 andwireless transceiver 110 during a pairing procedure in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a further schematic block diagram of a wireless transceiver125 and wireless transceiver 110 during a pairing procedure inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a data table inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart representation of an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart representation of an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by an antenna configuration of wireless transceiver 125 inaccordance another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of RF section 137and baseband section 139 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesstransceiver in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a radiotransmitter front-end 250 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a poweramplifier in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RF front-end240 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a low noiseamplifier in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of inductorconfiguration controller 280 in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 23 is a flowchart representation of an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationsystem in accordance with the present invention. In particular acommunication system is shown that includes a communication device 10that communicates real-time data 24 and/or non-real-time data 26wirelessly with one or more other devices such as base station 18,non-real-time device 20, real-time device 22, and non-real-time and/orreal-time device 25. In addition, communication device 10 can alsooptionally communicate over a wireline connection with non-real-timedevice 12, real-time device 14, non-real-time and/or real-time device16.

In an embodiment of the present invention the wireline connection 28 canbe a wired connection that operates in accordance with one or morestandard protocols, such as a universal serial bus (USB), Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 488, IEEE 1394 (Firewire),Ethernet, small computer system interface (SCSI), serial or paralleladvanced technology attachment (SATA or PATA), or other wiredcommunication protocol, either standard or proprietary. The wirelessconnection can communicate in accordance with a wireless networkprotocol such as WiHD, NGMS, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband(UWB), WIMAX, or other wireless network protocol, a wireless telephonydata/voice protocol such as Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates forGlobal Evolution (EDGE), Personal Communication Services (PCS), or othermobile wireless protocol or other wireless communication protocol,either standard or proprietary. Further, the wireless communication pathcan include separate transmit and receive paths that use separatecarrier frequencies and/or separate frequency channels. Alternatively, asingle frequency or frequency channel can be used to bi-directionallycommunicate data to and from the communication device 10.

Communication device 10 can be a mobile phone such as a cellulartelephone, a personal digital assistant, game console, personalcomputer, laptop computer, or other device that performs one or morefunctions that include communication of voice and/or data via wirelineconnection 28 and/or the wireless communication path. In an embodimentof the present invention, the real-time and non-real-time devices 12, 1416, 18, 20, 22 and 25 can be personal computers, laptops, PDAs, mobilephones, such as cellular telephones, devices equipped with wirelesslocal area network or Bluetooth transceivers, FM tuners, TV tuners,digital cameras, digital camcorders, or other devices that eitherproduce, process or use audio, video signals or other data orcommunications.

In operation, the communication device includes one or more applicationsthat include voice communications such as standard telephonyapplications, voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications, localgaming, Internet gaming, email, instant messaging, multimedia messaging,web browsing, audio/video recording, audio/video playback, audio/videodownloading, playing of streaming audio/video, office applications suchas databases, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation creation andprocessing and other voice and data applications. In conjunction withthese applications, the real-time data 26 includes voice, audio, videoand multimedia applications including Internet gaming, etc. Thenon-real-time data 24 includes text messaging, email, web browsing, fileuploading and downloading, etc.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device 10includes a wireless transceiver and/or programmable antenna thatincludes one or more features or functions of the present invention.Such devices shall be described in greater detail in association withFIGS. 3-23 that follow.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of anothercommunication system in accordance with the present invention. Inparticular, FIG. 2 presents a communication system that includes manycommon elements of FIG. 1 that are referred to by common referencenumerals. Communication device 30 is similar to communication device 10and is capable of any of the applications, functions and featuresattributed to communication device 10, as discussed in conjunction withFIG. 1. However, communication device 30 includes two separate wirelesstransceivers for communicating, contemporaneously, via two or morewireless communication protocols with data device 32 and/or data basestation 34 via RF data 40 and voice base station 36 and/or voice device38 via RF voice signals 42.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesstransceiver 125 in accordance with the present invention. In particular,a wireless transceiver 125 is shown that is included in a wirelessdevice 101, such as communication device 10 or 30 or other wirelessdevice. Wireless transceiver includes programmable antenna 100 thattransmits an outbound RF signal 170 containing outbound data 162 to oneor more remote transceivers such as wireless device 103 having acomplementary transceiver 110. In addition, programmable antenna 100receives an inbound RF signal 152 containing inbound data 160 from thewireless device 103. The programmable antenna 100 is configurable basedon control signals 106 to a plurality of different antennaconfigurations, such as different gains, frequencies, polarizations andradiation patterns.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the programmable antenna 100includes multiple individual antenna elements. Examples of suchindividual antenna elements include monopole or dipole antennas,three-dimensional in-air helix antenna, aperture antennas of arectangular shape, horn shaped, etc.; dipole antennas having a conicalshape, a cylinder shape, an elliptical shape, etc.; and reflectorantennas having a plane reflector, a corner reflector, or a parabolicreflector; meandering pattern or a micro strip configuration. Further,programmable antenna 100 can be implemented with one or more antennaarrays and further includes a control matrix that controls the phase andamplitude of the signals to and from each individual antenna element inorder to adjust the radiation pattern of the array based on an antennaweight vector. The programmable antenna 100 can be tuned for operationin the V-band of 55-64 GHz or other millimeter wave frequency band orother portion of the RF spectrum such as a 900 MHz band, 2.4 GHz band, 5GHz band or other frequency band.

The antenna configuration controller 104 generates the control signals106 to configure the programmable antenna 100 via a configurationprocedure. The RF transceiver section 102 generates a transmit signal155 based on the outbound data 162 that is transmitted as outbound RFsignal 170. In addition, the RF transceiver section 102 generates theinbound data 160 from a received signal 153 generated by programmableantenna 100 in response to the inbound RF signal 152. The programmableantenna 100 can include a multiple antennas of different of differentdesigns, different frequencies, different polarizations, or a singlearray, separate arrays of antennas for transmission and reception and/orseparate arrays that are physically separated.

Configuration controller 104 can be implemented using a sharedprocessing device, individual processing devices, or a plurality ofprocessing devices and may further include memory. Such a processingdevice may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signalprocessor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmablegate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulatessignals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Thememory may be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices.Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Notethat when the configuration controller 104 implements one or more of itsfunctions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operationalinstructions is embedded with the circuitry comprising the statemachine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration controller104 contains a table of control signals 106 that correspond to aplurality of candidate antenna configurations. In operation, aparticular antenna configuration is generated for the programmableantenna 100 by the configuration controller 104 generating thecorresponding control signals 106, and the programmable antenna 100implementing the selected configuration in response thereto. In anembodiment of the present invention, the control signals 106 include aparticular value of the antenna weight vector that is used by an antennaarray included in the programmable antenna 100 to adjust the antennaconfiguration to a desired radiation pattern including a beam pattern,polarization, etc. Alternatively, the control signals 106 can includeany other signal that indicates the desired antenna configuration, suchas by selecting a particular antenna, beam pattern, frequency,polarization, etc.

As will be discussed further in conjunction with figures that follow,configuration controller 104 operates based on quality data 108 from RFtransceiver section 102. In particular, quality data 108 can begenerated based on the transmission or reception characteristics betweenthe wireless transceiver 125 and one or more remote transceivers such astransceiver 110. The quality data 108 can include a signal strength, asignal to noise ratio, a signal to noise and interference ratio, a biterror rate, a packet error rate, a retransmission rate, and/or modeinterference data generated based on the interference between differentRF transceivers in use contemporaneously by the communication device 30or other data that indicates the performance of a particular antennaconfiguration in facilitating the communication between one or moreremote transceivers 110. Candidate radiation patterns can be selected oreliminated by comparing the quality data to a quality threshold. In thisfashion, radiation patterns for programmable antenna 100 that correspondto good communication paths can be identified and selected.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration controller104 implements the configuration procedure as part of a pairingprocedure between the wireless transceiver 125 and one or more remotetransceivers 110. In this fashion, the communication between thesedevices can be initialized. In addition, the configuration controller104 can update the antenna configurations from time to time. Inparticular, the configuration controller 104 can periodically testalternative antenna configurations or initiate a test of alternativeantenna configuration during communication quiet times. In circumstanceswhen the device characteristics of the wireless device 101 or mobilitydata received from wireless device 103 indicates that one or more of thedevices are mobile, configuration controller can schedule periodicupdates at a frequency that is based on the motion of such a device orthe relative motion between devices.

Configuration controller 104 can continually monitor the quality data108 for a selected radiation pattern and aggregates the quality data 108based on a windowing approach, an exponentially weighted moving average,a low pass filter or other smoothing technique. If the aggregatedquality data degrades beyond the quality threshold for that radiationpattern, the configuration controller 104 can initiate an updateprocedure to update the antenna configuration.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by wireless transceiver 125 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. In this example, the programmable antenna 100 caninclude 30-40 individual antenna elements and can produce steerable beamhaving a beamwidth of 1 to 3 degrees, as well as wider beam patternsincluding an omnidirectional radiation pattern. Radiation patterns 50,52 and 54 correspond to there different antenna configurations of theprogrammable antenna 100 of wireless transceiver 125. Radiation patterns50 and 52 present examples of two narrow beam radiation patterns, whileradiation pattern 54 represents a substantially omnidirectional pattern.While these radiation patterns are presented in two dimensions, itshould be recognized that the radiation patterns 50 and 52 arerepresentative of possible radiation patterns in any direction in threedimensional space. Radiation pattern 54 can be a three-dimensionalomnidirectional pattern or a pattern that is omnidirectional orsubstantially omnidirectional about one or more axes. As discussed inconjunction with FIG. 3, in addition to controlling the particular beampattern, the radiation pattern corresponding to a particular antennaconfiguration can also be controlled to a particular polarization, suchas a horizontal polarization, a vertical polarization, a right circularpolarization and a left circular polarization, etc.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of various communication pathsproduced by wireless transceiver 125 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

In particular, paths 60, 62 and 64 represent three communication pathsthat can be supported by the programmable antenna 100 based on theantenna configuration that is selected. In this particular case,transceiver 110 is implemented in a similar fashion to transceiver 125and also includes a phased array antenna, such as programmable antenna100.

For example, in a first antenna configuration transceivers 125 and 110steer their antenna beams to produce communication path 60 that includesa reflection off of object 66, such as a ceiling, wall, floor, articleof furniture or other object. In a second antenna configuration,transceivers 125 and 110 steer their antenna beams to produce a line ofsight path 62. In a third antenna configuration, transceivers 125 and110 steer their antenna beams to produce communication path 64 thatincludes a reflection off of objects 66 and 68.

While these communications paths are presented in two dimensions, itshould be recognized that the paths 60, 62 and 64 are representative ofpossible communication paths in any direction in three dimensionalspace.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a configuration sequence inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, aconfiguration sequence 70 is shown as part of a configuration procedurefor a programmable antenna, such as programmable antenna 100. In thisexample, the configuration sequence 70 includes N different candidateantenna configurations that are generated to promote the identificationof a selected antenna configuration. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, the N candidate antenna configurations can encompass a rangeof different antennas, different beam patterns, different polarizations,etc.

In operation, the programmable antenna evaluates the N candidate antennaconfigurations, based on quality data, such as quality data 108,collected for each antenna configuration where:

N>1

The quality data 108 for each of the N candidate antenna configurationsis evaluated to determine if the quality data corresponding to any ofthe antenna configurations compares favorably to a quality threshold. Ifone of the N candidate antenna configurations is identified asgenerating quality data 108 that exceeds the quality threshold, thatcandidate antenna configuration can be selected. If more than one of theN candidate antenna configurations is identified as generating qualitydata 108 that exceeds the quality threshold, the quality data 108 forthe identified candidate antenna configurations can be compared and theantenna configuration with the overall best performance can be selected.

If however, if none of the quality data 108 corresponding the antennaconfigurations compares favorably to the quality threshold, theconfiguration procedure generates a new set of candidate antennaconfigurations as presented in conjunction with FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a configuration sequence inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, aconfiguration sequence 72 is shown as part of a configuration procedurefor a programmable antenna, such as programmable antenna 100, where noneof the quality data 108 corresponding the previous N antennaconfigurations compares favorably to the quality threshold. In thiscase, a proper subset 74 of the N candidate antenna configurations isgenerated that includes antenna configuration 2 and optionally otherantenna configurations. In particular the proper subset 74 is generatedbased on identifying the best performing M candidate antennaconfigurations from the N candidate antenna configurations, where:

M≧1; and

M<N

The configuration procedure continues by a new group of P candidateantenna configurations of configuration sequence 72, based on the propersubset 74, where:

P>1

The configuration procedure continues in an iterative fashion toevaluate the candidate antenna configurations of configuration sequence72, based on the quality data 108 corresponding to each candidateantenna configuration. Again, a selected antenna configuration isidentified when the quality data corresponding to one or more antennaconfiguration compares favorably to the quality threshold. Further, ifhowever, if none of the quality data 108 corresponding the P antennaconfigurations compares favorably to the quality threshold, theconfiguration procedure generates a proper subset of the P antennaconfigurations and generates a new set of candidate antennaconfigurations based on the proper subset of the P antennaconfigurations. In particular, the configuration can continueiteratively until an acceptable antenna configuration is identified, orwhen all of the antenna configurations have been exhausted, based on aselection the best of all previous antenna configurations, after acomparison of quality data 108 for all previous antenna configurations.

The operation of the configuration procedure can be explained inconjunction with the examples presented below and in conjunction withFIG. 8-9. In one example, the N candidate antenna configurations utilizea plurality of different antenna polarizations and the proper subset 74is generated by identifying, based on the candidate antennaconfigurations having the most favorable quality data 108, the candidateantenna configuration or configurations with the best polarization orpolarizations.

The configuration procedure continues by generating P new candidateantenna configurations having different beam patterns, in accordancewith the best polarization or polarizations identified from the firstproper subset. A selected antenna configuration is identified when thequality data corresponding to one or more antenna configuration comparesfavorably to the quality threshold. Further, if however, if none of thequality data 108 corresponding the P antenna configurations comparesfavorably to the quality threshold, the configuration procedure proceedsiteratively by generating a proper subset of the P antennaconfigurations, based on, for instance, a refinement of the best beampattern or patterns and further by generates a new set of candidateantenna configurations, etc.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by different antenna configurations of wireless transceiver 125in accordance another embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, beam patterns are shown corresponding to antennaconfigurations 55 and 55′ that are used to illustrate the operation offurther configuration procedures.

In one example, once a polarization has been identified in a firstiteration of the configuration procedure based on the evaluation ofantenna configurations with different polarizations, a configurationsequence is generated to evaluate the antenna configurations 55 and 55′.While shown in two dimensions, the antenna configurations 55 and 55′represent a subdivision of a spherical radiation pattern into twoopposing hemispherical beams. In this procedure, the candidate antennaconfigurations 55 and 55′ are evaluated, based on the quality data 108corresponding to each candidate antenna configuration. A selectedantenna configuration is identified when the quality data correspondingto either antenna configuration 55 or antenna configuration 55′ comparesfavorably to the quality threshold. Further, if however, if none of thequality data 108 corresponding the candidate antenna configurations 55and 55′ compares favorably to the quality threshold, the configurationprocedure generates a proper subset, based on which of the two candidateantenna configurations 55 and 55′ generates the best quality data. Theconfiguration procedure can then continue by generating a new set ofcandidate antenna configurations based on the particular candidateantenna configuration 55 or 55′ identified as the best.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by different antenna configurations of wireless transceiver 125in accordance another embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, the example configuration procedure begun in FIG. 8 iscontinued. In this example, the antenna configuration 55′ was identifiedas the best of the antenna configurations 55 and 55′ in the prioriteration of the configuration procedure. However, neither of theantenna configurations 55 and 55′ was selected, because neither of theantenna configurations 55 and 55′ generated quality data 108 thatexceeded the quality threshold. In this case, a new group of antennaconfigurations 56 and 56′ are generated and evaluated in a newconfiguration sequence. In particular, while shown in two dimensions,the antenna configurations 56 and 56′ represent the subdivision of thehemispherical radiation pattern of antenna configuration 55′ into twonarrower beam patterns.

In this procedure, the candidate antenna configurations 56 and 56′ areevaluated, based on the quality data 108 corresponding to each candidateantenna configuration. A selected antenna configuration is identifiedwhen the quality data corresponding to either antenna configuration 56or antenna configuration 56′ compares favorably to the qualitythreshold. Further, if however, if none of the quality data 108corresponding the candidate antenna configurations 56 and 56′ comparesfavorably to the quality threshold, the configuration proceduregenerates a proper subset, based on which of the two candidate antennaconfigurations 56 and 56′ generates the best quality data. Theconfiguration procedure can then continue by generating a new set ofcandidate antenna configurations based on the particular candidateantenna configuration 56 or 56′ identified as the best, and forinstance, to subdivide the best beam pattern into narrower beams withgreater gain.

In this fashion, the configuration procedure can home in on asufficiently narrow beam pattern for the programmable antenna 100without the need of testing all possible narrow beam patterns. While inthe example described above, a polarization is been identified in afirst iteration of the configuration procedure, polarization can bedetermined at another iteration or evaluated at each iteration, based onthe generation of each new set of candidate antenna configurations ateach iteration.

Further, while the example presented in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9evaluate two candidate antenna configurations at each iteration, agreater number of candidate antenna configurations can be evaluated, forinstance, by starting with four configurations and subdividing the bestconfiguration into four narrower patterns, etc. or by generating antennaconfigurations with combinations of different beam patterns, differentspatial diversity, different polarizations, etc. Also, while the exampledescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9 generates an improper subsetas the single best antenna configuration, two or more antennaconfigurations can be included in the improper subset, particularly whenthe values of N and P are greater than two.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless transceiver 125 andwireless transceiver 110 during a pairing procedure in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a pairingprocedure is presented that uses one or more of the configurationprocedures previously described in conjunction with FIGS. 3-9. In orderto initialize the antenna configuration used between two wirelesstransceivers, such as wireless transceivers 110 and 125, the particularset of radiation patterns to be used by each device and the associationbetween each of the radiation patterns needs to be determined. Inparticular, a collaborative pairing procedure is employed to determineselected radiation patterns for each device in such a fashion that aradiation pattern for one device is associated with a reciprocalradiation pattern for the other device. Coordination of the variousactivities of the pairing procedure between the configurationcontrollers 104 of the two devices communicating via control signalingeffectuated via omnidirectional antenna configurations for one or bothdevices.

The pairing procedure includes a procedure that configures the radiationpatterns for the wireless transceiver 125. In this portion of thepairing procedure, the configuration controller 104 of transceiver 110generates controls signals 106 to establish an omnidirectional orsubstantially omnidirectional radiation pattern 82. The configurationcontroller 104 of wireless transceiver 125 generates control signals 106to run a configuration procedure to select an antenna configurationhaving corresponding radiation pattern of the plurality of candidateradiation patterns 80. In operation, the configuration controller 104selects an antenna configuration when an acceptable communication pathto transceiver 110 exists along the axis of that candidate radiationpattern.

While the candidate radiation patterns 80 are presented in twodimensions, it should be recognized that the candidate radiationpatterns 80 are representative of possible radiation patterns in anydirection in three dimensional space.

FIG. 11 is a further schematic block diagram of a wireless transceiver125 and wireless transceiver 110 during a pairing procedure inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Aftertransceiver 125 has selected an antenna configuration with correspondingradiation pattern 86 and path 85, the configuration controller 104 ofwireless transceiver 110 generates control signals 106 to run theconfiguration procedure to iteratively test each of a plurality ofantenna configurations having a corresponding plurality of candidateradiation patterns 84. The configuration controller 104 generatesquality data based on quality signals 108 for each of the candidateradiation patterns 84 and the configuration procedure runs iterativelyto select an antenna configuration corresponding to path 85.

While the candidate radiation patterns 84 and radiation pattern 86 andpath 85 are presented in two dimensions, it should be recognized thatthe candidate radiation patterns 84, radiation pattern 86 and path 85are representative of possible radiation patterns and paths in anydirection in three dimensional space. It should also be noted that whilevarious functions in the pairing procedure performed by wirelesstransceiver 125 and 110 can be reversed in other embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a data table inaccordance with the present invention. In particular a data table 90 isshown for use in conjunction with a configuration controller, such asconfiguration controller 104. In particular, control signal data CS001,CS002, CS003, CS004 are stored in association with corresponding antennaconfigurations 001, 002, 003, 004, etc. The data table 90 can store datacorresponding to all possible antenna configuration. To implement aparticular antenna configuration, such as configuration 002, theconfiguration controller 104 can lookup the corresponding control signaldata, in this case CS002, to generate the control signals 106. As shown,once a particular antenna configuration has been selected, the datatable 90 includes an indicator of which antenna configuration wasselected. While not shown, each antenna configuration can includerelationship data linking it to other related antenna configurations interms of like polarizations, subdivision of antenna beam patterns andthe like in linked list structure, a hierarchical structure or otherdata structure in order to facilitate the selection of new candidateantenna configurations based on the improper subsets generated in theprior iteration.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart representation of an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention. In particular, a portion of acollaborative pairing procedure between a first and second transceiveris shown. In step 200, a first transceiver is set to an omnidirectionalmode. In step 202, candidate radiation patterns are tested for thesecond transceiver. In step 204, radiation patterns are selected for thesecond transceiver, based on the test results.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart representation of an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention. In particular a method ispresented for use in association with the method presented inconjunction with FIG. 13. In particular, after the method of FIG. 13 isperformed, the second transceiver is set to a first selected radiationpattern, as shown in step 210. In step 212, the candidate radiationpatterns for the first transceiver are tested to identify a reciprocalradiation pattern for the first transceiver. In step 214, the process isrepeated for all other selected radiation patterns of the secondtransceiver to identify corresponding reciprocal radiation patterns ofthe first transceiver.

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of various radiation patternsproduced by an antenna configuration of wireless transceiver 125 inaccordance another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, awireless transceiver 125 is presented in an implementation such ascommunication device 30 where communication can occur contemporaneouslywith a plurality of devices via transceivers 110 . . . 110′. Inparticular, Wireless transceiver 125 includes a first RF transceiversection that generates a first outbound RF signal in accordance with afirst communication protocol based on the first outbound data and thatgenerates the first inbound data based on a first inbound RF signal inaccordance with a first communication protocol. A second RF transceiversection of wireless transceiver 125 generates a second outbound RFsignal in accordance with a second communication protocol based on thesecond outbound data and that generates second inbound data based on asecond inbound RF signal in accordance with the second communicationprotocol.

In this embodiment, the programmable antenna 100 can be a multi-modeantenna that transmits the first outbound radio frequency (RF) signal toa remote transceiver 110 and that receives a first inbound RF signalfrom the remote RF transceiver 110. Further, the programmable antenna100 contemporaneously transmits a second outbound RF signal to a secondremote transceiver 110′ and that receives a second inbound RF signalfrom the second remote RF transceiver 110′.

As previously described, the configuration controller 104 operates togenerate control signals 106 to establish an antenna configuration and,in particular executes a configuration procedure to select a particularantenna configuration. However, each antenna configuration contains twoor more individual antenna configurations corresponding to each mode ofcommunication and/or each separate remote transceiver in communicationwith the wireless transceiver 125. For instance, each of antennaconfigurations can utilize a plurality of antenna polarizationsincluding a first antenna polarization for use in conjunction with thefirst communication protocol and a second antenna polarization for usein conjunction with the second communication protocol.

In operation, the configuration procedure can make decisions based onquality data that indicates the performance of each of the individualantenna configurations. In this embodiment however, the quality datafurther includes mode interference data that indicates the amount ofinterference between the different communication modes. Theconfiguration procedure can operate iteratively to evaluate antennaconfigurations for one mode of operation at a time. In this fashion, theantenna configuration for a first mode of communication via a firstprotocol with a first device can be selected as previously described.Then the configuration procedure can proceed to evaluate antennaconfigurations for the communication via a second protocol with a seconddevice, with each candidate antenna configuration using the selectedantenna configuration for the first mode. In the alternative, theconfiguration procedure can, at each iteration, vary the individualantenna configurations of both modes of communication.

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of RF section 137and baseband section 139 in accordance with the present invention. Inparticular an RF section 137 and baseband section 139 are shown thatimplement an RF transceiver section such as RF transceiver section 102.The RF section 137 includes an RF front end 140, a down conversionmodule 142, radio transmitted front end 150 and up conversion module148. The baseband section 139 includes a receiver processing module 144and transmitter processing module 146.

As shown, radio transmitter front end 150 couples the transmit signal155 to the programmable antenna 100 (implemented via a programmableantenna section 105 and configuration controller 104), via the antennainterface 107 to produce outbound RF signal 170. RF front end 140receives received signal 153 generated by programmable antenna 100 basedon inbound RF signal 152 as coupled by the antenna interface 107. Theantenna interface 107 includes a transmit/receive switch, diplexor,balun or other isolation circuitry along with optional impedancematching.

In operation, the transmitter processing module 146 processes theoutbound data 162 in accordance with a particular wireless communicationstandard (e.g., WiHD, NGMS, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, RFID, GSM, CDMA, etcetera) to produce baseband or low intermediate frequency (IF) transmit(TX) signals 164. The baseband or low IF TX signals 164 may be digitalbaseband signals (e.g., have a zero IF) or digital low IF signals, wherethe low IF typically will be in a frequency range of one hundredkilohertz to a few megahertz. Note that the processing performed by thetransmitter processing module 146 includes, but is not limited to,scrambling, encoding, puncturing, mapping, modulation, and/or digitalbaseband to IF conversion. Further note that the transmitter processingmodule 146 may be implemented using a shared processing device,individual processing devices, or a plurality of processing devices andmay further include memory. Such a processing device may be amicroprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor,microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array,programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals(analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. The memorymay be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such amemory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flashmemory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note thatwhen the processing module 146 implements one or more of its functionsvia a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructionsis embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

The up conversion module 148 includes a digital-to-analog conversion(DAC) module, a filtering and/or gain module, and a mixing section. TheDAC module converts the baseband or low IF TX signals 164 from thedigital domain to the analog domain. The filtering and/or gain modulefilters and/or adjusts the gain of the analog signals prior to providingit to the mixing section. The mixing section converts the analogbaseband or low IF signals into up converted signals 166 based on atransmitter local oscillation.

The radio transmitter front end 150 includes at least one poweramplifier and may also include a transmit filter module. The poweramplifier amplifies the up converted signals 166 to produce outbound RFsignals 170, which may be filtered by the transmitter filter module, ifincluded.

The receiver front-end 140 includes a low noise amplifier with optionalfiltration that produces a desired RF signal 154 in response to receivedsignal 153. The RF front end 140 further includes a signal leveldetector or other circuit that generates a quality signal 108 thatindicates a received signal strength, signal to noise ratio, signal tonoise and interference ratio, mode interface measurement or otherreceiver quality indication.

The down conversion module 142 includes a mixing section, an analog todigital conversion (ADC) module, and may also include a filtering and/orgain module. The mixing section converts the desired RF signal 154 intoa down converted signal 156 that is based on a receiver localoscillation, such as an analog baseband or low IF signal. The ADC moduleconverts the analog baseband or low IF signal into a digital baseband orlow IF signal. The filtering and/or gain module high pass and/or lowpass filters the digital baseband or low IF signal to produce a basebandor low IF signal 156. Note that the ordering of the ADC module andfiltering and/or gain module may be switched, such that the filteringand/or gain module is an analog module.

The receiver processing module 144 processes the baseband or low IFsignal 156 in accordance with a particular wireless communicationprotocol (e.g., WiHD, NGMS, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, RFID, GSM, CDMA, etcetera) to produce inbound data 160. The processing performed by thereceiver processing module 144 can include, but is not limited to,digital intermediate frequency to baseband conversion, demodulation,demapping, depuncturing, decoding, and/or descrambling. Receiverprocessing module 144 further generates quality signal 108 based on abit error rate, a packet error rate, a retransmission rate or otherreceiver quality indication that is based on either the reception ofdata from a remote station or that is analyzed by a remote transceiverand included in data received from that remote station. In one example,the receiver processing module 144 can generate quality data based onits own observations of bit error rate, a packet error rate, aretransmission rate, etc. In a further example, the receiver processingmodule 144 can receive control data from a remote transceiver thatincludes that remote transceivers observations of bit error rate, apacket error rate, a retransmission rate, signal strength, signal tonoise ratio, signal to noise and interference ratio, or other qualitymetrics.

Note that the receiver processing module 144 may be implemented using ashared processing device, individual processing devices, or a pluralityof processing devices and may further include memory. Such a processingdevice may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signalprocessor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmablegate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulatessignals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Thememory may be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices.Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Notethat when the receiver processing module 144 implements one or more ofits functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operationalinstructions is embedded with the circuitry comprising the statemachine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

As previously discussed, configuration controller generates controlsignals 106 to select different antenna configurations of programmableantenna section 105. In an embodiment of the present invention, theantenna interface 107 includes a tunable impedance, such as a tunableinductor and/or tunable capacitor to tune the antenna interface to theparticular antenna configuration. In addition, as will be discussedfurther in conjunction with FIGS. 18-22, the RF section 137, and inparticular the RF front-end 140 and radio transmitter front-end 150optionally include tunable impedances such as tunable capacitors orinductors that impedance match the input and output sections of the RFsection 137 to the antenna interface 107 and programmable antennasection 105, based on the antenna configuration indicated by the controlsignals 106.

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesstransceiver in accordance with the present invention. In particular,another embodiment of a wireless transceiver, such as wirelesstransceiver 125 is presented where programmable antenna 100 includes twoor more separate phase array antennas 99 and 99′. In an embodiment ofthe present invention, the phased array antennas 99 and 99′ areconfigured to be spatially diverse from one another, such as be spacedapart, located on different sides or surfaces of a host device 101, etc.The RF transceiver section includes a plurality of RF sections 137 and acommon baseband section 139′ that processes inbound data 160 andoutbound data 162 for communication with via phased array antenna 99, or99′ . . . .

In multi-mode operation, the wireless transceiver 125 can optionallyimplement individual antenna configurations for different communicationmodes via different arrays. In single mode operation, antennaconfigurations from each of the arrays can be evaluated to find anacceptable antenna configuration.

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a radiotransmitter front-end 250 in accordance with the present invention. Inparticular, a radio transmitter front-end 250, such as radio transmitterfront-end 150, includes a plurality of power amplifiers 252, 254, 256and 258 that are selectable via switch 260 based on a mode controlsignal 268 generated by a communication application of a host device,such as wireless device 101. In particular, power amplifiers 252, 254,256, and 258 are individually coupleable to the antenna interface viaswitch 260 based on a power mode, a communication mode and/orlinear/non-linear mode indicated by the mode signal 268. In addition,one or more of the power amplifiers 252, 254, 256 or 258 has an outputsection that is tunable based on the control signals 106 to theparticular antenna configuration in use.

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a poweramplifier in accordance with the present invention. In particular, apower amplifier 264, such as power amplifier 252, 254, 256 or 258 isshown. An output section is shown, however one or more preamplifiers orother components, not shown, can likewise be included. In operation,transistors 266 generate a power amplified output based on up-convertedsignal 166. Tunable inductors 264 response to tuning signals 262 toimpedance match the output section to an antenna interface coupled viaswitch 260, such as antenna interface 107. In particular, tunableinductors 264 can be multi-tap inductors with a switch matrix thatcontrols the inductance based on which taps are selected. Further, aplurality of individual inductors can be connected via a switch matrixto couple a selected combination of inductors in series or in parallelto control the overall inductance. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, the tunable inductors 264 are implemented on a printedcircuit board or integrated circuit with one or more layers. Othervariable inductor designs can similarly be employed.

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RF front-end240 in accordance with the present invention. In particular, RFfront-end 240, such as RF front-end 140, includes a plurality oflow-noise amplifiers 242, 244, 246 and 248 that are selectable viaswitch 270 based on a mode control signal 278 generated by acommunication application of a host device, such as wireless device 101.In particular, low-noise amplifiers 242, 244, 246 and 248 areindividually coupleable to the down-conversion module, such asdown-conversion module 142 via switch 270 based on a receiversensitivity, a communication mode and/or power mode indicated by themode signal 268. In addition, one or more of the low-noise amplifiers242, 244, 246 and 248 has an output section that is tunable based on thecontrol signals 106 to the particular antenna configuration in use.

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a low noiseamplifier in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a lownoise amplifier 274, such as low-noise amplifiers 242, 244, 246 or 248is shown. An input section is shown, however one or more otheramplifiers, automatic gain control stages, filters or other components,not shown, can likewise be included. In operation, transistors 276generate an amplified output based on received up-converted signal 153.Tunable inductors 274 respond to tuning signals 272 to impedance matchthe antenna interface 107. Tunable inductors 274 can be multi-tapinductors with a switch matrix that controls the inductance based onwhich taps are selected. Further, a plurality of individual inductorscan be connected via a switch matrix to couple a selected combination ofinductors in series or in parallel to control the overall inductance. Inan embodiment of the present invention, the tunable inductors 274 areimplemented on a printed circuit board or integrated circuit with one ormore layers. Other variable inductor designs can similarly be employed.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of inductorconfiguration controller 280 in accordance with the present invention.In particular, an inductor configuration controller 280 is shown for usein conjunction with RF front-end 240 and radio transmitter front-end250. Inductor configuration controller 280 generates tuning signals 272and 262 to one or more of the power amplifiers 252, 254, 256 and 258 andone or more of the low noise amplifiers 242, 244, 246 and 248 toconfigure the tunable inductors to one of a plurality of tuningconfigurations, based on the current antenna configuration and theconfiguration of the antenna interface so as to provide impedancematching for both transmission and reception.

The inductor configuration controller 280 can be implemented using ashared processing device, individual processing devices, or a pluralityof processing devices and may further include memory. Such a processingdevice may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signalprocessor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmablegate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulatessignals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Thememory may be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices.Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Notethat when the inductor configuration controller 280 implements one ormore of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the correspondingoperational instructions is embedded with the circuitry comprising thestate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry.

While inductor configuration controller 280 is shown separately fromconfiguration controller 104, the inductor configuration controller 280can be implemented in a similar fashion to generate the tuning signalsin response to the particular antenna configuration in use. Further, thefunctionality of the two devices can be combined into a single device.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart representation of an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention. A method is presented for use inconjunction with one or more of the functions and features presented inconjunction with FIGS. 1-22. In particular, a method of generating acontrol signal is presented for use to configure a programmable antennavia a configuration procedure. In step 430, a plurality of candidateantenna configurations are evaluated based on quality data correspondingto each antenna configuration. In decision block 432, the methoddetermines if any of the candidate antenna configurations have qualitydata that compare favorably to a quality threshold. If so, the methodproceeds to step 434 where a selected antenna configuration isidentified. If not, the method proceeds to step 436 select a propersubset of the candidate antenna configurations. In step 438, a newplurality of candidate antenna configurations are generated based on theproper subset of the plurality of candidate antenna configurations. Themethod proceeds iteratively back to step 430 to evaluate the newplurality of candidate antenna configurations.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” and/or includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, theintervening item does not modify the information of a signal but mayadjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As mayfurther be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element iscoupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirectcoupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As mayeven further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that anitem includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s),etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may furtherinclude inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may stillfurther be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes directand/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “comparesfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items,signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when thedesired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude thansignal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude ofsignal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that thefunctional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules andcomponents herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discretecomponents, application specific integrated circuits, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

The present invention has been described in conjunction with variousillustrative embodiments that include many optional functions andfeatures. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that thedisclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways, the functions andfeatures of these embodiments can be combined in other embodiments notexpressly shown, and may assume many embodiments other than thepreferred forms specifically set out and described above. Accordingly,it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of theinvention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A wireless transceiver comprising: a programmable antenna, thattransmits an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal containing outbounddata to a remote transceiver and that receives an inbound RF signalcontaining inbound data from the remote transceiver, wherein theprogrammable antenna is configurable based on a control signal; at leastone RF transceiver section, coupled to the programmable antenna, thatgenerates the outbound RF signal based on the outbound data and thatgenerates the inbound data based on the inbound RF signal; and anantenna configuration controller, coupled to the programmable antenna,that generates the control signal to configure the programmable antennavia a configuration procedure that includes: evaluating a firstplurality of candidate antenna configurations, based on quality datacorresponding to each of the first plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations; identifying at least one selected antenna configurationfrom the first plurality of candidate antenna configurations, when thequality data corresponding to the at least one selected antennaconfiguration compares favorably to a quality threshold; selecting afirst proper subset of the first plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations when the quality data corresponding to the firstplurality of candidate antenna configurations compares unfavorably tothe quality threshold; generating a second plurality of candidateantenna configurations, based on the first proper subset of the firstplurality of candidate antenna configurations; evaluating the secondplurality of candidate antenna configurations, based on the quality datacorresponding to each of the second plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations; and identifying the at least one selected antennaconfiguration from the second plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations, when the quality data corresponding to the at least oneselected antenna configuration compares favorably to the qualitythreshold.
 2. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 wherein, theconfiguration procedure further includes: selecting a second propersubset of the second plurality of candidate antenna configurations whenthe quality data corresponding to the second plurality of candidateantenna configurations compares unfavorably to the quality threshold;and generating a third plurality of candidate antenna configurations,based on the second proper subset of the second plurality of candidateantenna configurations.
 3. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 whereinthe antenna configuration controller generates the quality data based onat least one of: a signal strength, a signal to noise ratio, a signal tonoise and interference ratio, a bit error rate, a packet error rate anda retransmission rate.
 4. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 whereinthe configuration controller generates the quality data based on theinbound RF signal and wherein the inbound RF signal is transmittedomnidirectionally by the remote transceiver during a portion of theconfiguration procedure.
 5. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 whereinthe antenna configuration controller generates the control signal toconfigure the programmable antenna to an omnidirectional radiationpattern during a portion of the configuration procedure.
 6. The wirelesstransceiver of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of antennaconfigurations utilize a plurality of antenna polarizations.
 7. Thewireless transceiver of claim 6 wherein the first proper subset of theplurality first plurality of antenna configurations is generated basedon identifying one of the first plurality of antenna configurationshaving the most favorable quality data and identifying one of theplurality of antenna polarizations corresponding to the identified oneof the plurality first plurality of antenna configurations; and whereinthe second plurality of antenna configurations are generated to utilizea plurality of beam patterns having the identified one of the pluralityof antenna polarizations.
 8. The wireless transceiver of claim 1 whereinthe first proper subset of the plurality first plurality of antennaconfigurations is generated based on identifying one of the firstplurality of antenna configurations having the most favorable qualitydata.
 9. The wireless transceiver of claim 8 wherein the first pluralityof antenna configurations utilize a plurality of antenna beam patterns.10. The wireless transceiver of claim 9 wherein the second plurality ofantenna configurations are generated to subdivide an antenna beampattern corresponding the identified one of the plurality firstplurality of antenna configurations.
 11. A programmable antennacomprising: a programmable antenna section, that transmits an outboundradio frequency (RF) signal containing outbound data to a remotetransceiver and that receives an inbound RF signal containing inbounddata from the remote transceiver, wherein the programmable antenna isconfigurable based on a control signal; and an antenna configurationcontroller, coupled to the programmable antenna section, that generatesthe control signal to configure the programmable antenna section via aconfiguration procedure that includes: evaluating a first plurality ofcandidate antenna configurations, based on quality data corresponding toeach of the first plurality of candidate antenna configurations;identifying at least one selected antenna configuration from the firstplurality of candidate antenna configurations, when the quality datacorresponding to the at least one selected antenna configurationcompares favorably to a quality threshold; selecting a first propersubset of the first plurality of candidate antenna configurations whenthe quality data corresponding to the first plurality of candidateantenna configurations compares unfavorably to the quality threshold;generating a second plurality of candidate antenna configurations, basedon the first proper subset of the first plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations; evaluating the second plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations, based on the quality data corresponding to each of thesecond plurality of candidate antenna configurations; and identifyingthe at least one selected antenna configuration from the secondplurality of candidate antenna configurations, when the quality datacorresponding to the at least one selected antenna configurationcompares favorably to the quality threshold.
 12. The programmableantenna of claim 11 wherein, the configuration procedure furtherincludes: selecting a second proper subset of the second plurality ofcandidate antenna configurations when the quality data corresponding tothe second plurality of candidate antenna configurations comparesunfavorably to the quality threshold; and generating a third pluralityof candidate antenna configurations, based on the second proper subsetof the second plurality of candidate antenna configurations.
 13. Theprogrammable antenna of claim 11 wherein the antenna configurationcontroller generates the quality data based on at least one of: a signalstrength, a signal to noise ratio, a signal to noise and interferenceratio, a bit error rate, a packet error rate and a retransmission rate.14. The programmable antenna of claim 11 wherein the configurationcontroller generates the quality data based on the inbound RF signal andwherein the inbound RF signal is transmitted omnidirectionally by theremote transceiver during a portion of the configuration procedure. 15.The programmable antenna of claim 11 wherein the antenna configurationcontroller generates the control signal to configure the programmableantenna to an omnidirectional radiation pattern during a portion of theconfiguration procedure.
 16. The programmable antenna of claim 11wherein the first plurality of antenna configurations utilize aplurality of antenna polarizations.
 17. The programmable antenna ofclaim 16 wherein the first proper subset of the plurality firstplurality of antenna configurations is generated based on identifyingone of the first plurality of antenna configurations having the mostfavorable quality data and identifying one of the plurality of antennapolarizations corresponding to the identified one of the plurality firstplurality of antenna configurations; and wherein the second plurality ofantenna configurations are generated to utilize a plurality of beampatterns having the identified one of the plurality of antennapolarizations.
 18. The programmable antenna of claim 11 wherein thefirst proper subset of the plurality first plurality of antennaconfigurations is generated based on identifying one of the firstplurality of antenna configurations having the most favorable qualitydata.
 19. The programmable antenna of claim 18 wherein the firstplurality of antenna configurations utilize a plurality of antenna beampatterns.
 20. The programmable antenna of claim 19 wherein the secondplurality of antenna configurations are generated to subdivide anantenna beam pattern corresponding the identified one of the pluralityfirst plurality of antenna configurations.
 21. A method of configuring aprogrammable antenna comprising: generating a control signal toconfigure the programmable antenna via a configuration procedure thatincludes: evaluating a first plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations, based on quality data corresponding to each of the firstplurality of candidate antenna configurations; identifying at least oneselected antenna configuration from the first plurality of candidateantenna configurations, when the quality data corresponding to the atleast one selected antenna configuration compares favorably to a qualitythreshold; selecting a first proper subset of the first plurality ofcandidate antenna configurations when the quality data corresponding tothe first plurality of candidate antenna configurations comparesunfavorably to the quality threshold; generating a second plurality ofcandidate antenna configurations, based on the first proper subset ofthe first plurality of candidate antenna configurations; evaluating thesecond plurality of candidate antenna configurations, based on thequality data corresponding to each of the second plurality of candidateantenna configurations; and identifying the at least one selectedantenna configuration from the second plurality of candidate antennaconfigurations, when the quality data corresponding to the at least oneselected antenna configuration compares favorably to the qualitythreshold.